France October 2015

As we left Epernay, well satisfied with our attempts to sample as much of the best champagne France has to offer, we felt that a long bike ride up into the vineyards may go some way to overcome the results of our over-indulgence.

Alison is standing on the Dom Perignon road marker

Heading east along the Marne we had initially planned to turn left and head south up the Seine. But Paris was only 2 hours away and it was a sunny day so we continued west right to the Eiffel Tower. We dodged lunch cruise boats and even waited for traffic lights - it was a real buzz. So much so that we opened one of our stash of champagne for a toast on our way past the Notre Dame. 

Eiffel Tower behind Pont Alexandre III

French champagne as Sirius motors past Notre Dame

After such a high we needed some quiet cruising so the Nivernais canal was just the answer. Regarded as one of the nicest in France, it is narrow with many well-tended locks and low bridges. It is popular with hire companies and we met many Australians and Kiwis bent on having the best canal holiday experience. 

Some bridges were a bit tight on air draft for Sirius

Alison helps out by closing the lock gate as the narrow canal meanders away behind her

Here a road bridge on the Nivernais has to be opened before we can pass

The beautiful town of Auxerre is where we left Sirius for the Winter

We had 3 days in Paris before heading home. One of our favourite places is the Louvre so we spent our last night amongst some of the the world's finest art treasures

And goodnight from her too!